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26
Nov 2021
BREAKING: Ripon pool opening delayed until January after fault found
Ripon's new swimming pool will not open until January after a fault was found with the lining of the pool during testing.
The six-lane pool on Dallamires Lane was due to open to swimmers on December 8 but will now be delayed to an unconfirmed date in January 2022.
Harrogate Borough Council said pool manufacturer Myrtha will be carrying out additional work to fix the problem, at no extra cost to the council.
Conservative councillor Stanley Lumley, HBC's cabinet member for culture, tourism and sport, and chair of the board of directors at Brimhams Active, said:
Harrogate Borough Council closed Ripon Spa Baths last month in anticipation of the new pool opening. It now means there is nowhere to have a swim in Ripon until the new year.
Read more:
- EXCLUSIVE: Ripon leisure scheme racks up additional £1m cost
- Conservative councillor says Ripon leisure scheme is poor use of public money
The council has not released details of exactly what the fault is. It's not clear if it is related to the ground the pool has been built on.
However, concerns have again been raised recently that the site could be permanently plagued by the threat of sinkholes.
Earlier this month after a council-commissioned report by engineering company Stantec outlined measures to mitigate the effects of a void that was detected last year.
Dr Alan Thompson, a geologist and director of Cuesta Consulting in Somerset, called for the council to postpone a decision on the measures and give greater consideration to finding an alternative site.
Senior councillors voted to press ahead with its plan to carry out further work while opening most of the site.
The Stray Ferret revealed today that Ripon’s new leisure project is now more than £4m over budget.
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